Embrace Winter's End: Your February Seasonal Fruit Guide
February beckons, bringing with it whispers of spring while still holding onto the chill of winter. It's the perfect time to explore fruits at their seasonal peak, harnessing their vibrant flavours to create delightful desserts. This month's guide delves into exciting possibilities, showcasing the bounty February offers.
Early Arrivals - first harvest
Forced Rhubarb: This blushing beauty arrives early, perfect for a stunning dessert. Imagine a silky set custard cradling orange-poached rhubarb, a symphony of sweet and tartness on your palate.
Moro Blood Oranges: Their deep, jewel-toned flesh begs for decadence. Indulge in a chocolate and orange tart, the dark richness of the cocoa perfectly matched by the citrusy zing.
Tarocco Oranges: While stunning ornaments, their flavour shines too. Utilise their vibrant peels to add a touch of elegance to your creations.
Peak Perfection:
Calamansi: This tiny citrus packs a punch! Its tartness lends itself beautifully to a tangy curd, a delightful surprise waiting in your next pastry adventure.
Conference Pears: Saffron and cardamom poached pears with a hazelnut crumble and vanilla crème anglais, these pears offer a comforting warmth, perfect for chasing away winter chills. RECIPE AVAILABLE IN OUR WINTER E-BOOK
Finger Limes: These citrus caviar beauties burst with flavour, making them a stunning garnish for a citrusy petit four, adding a delightful pop of colour and texture.
Fuji Apples: Caramelised to golden perfection and served alongside a crème fraîche sorbet, these apples are a study in contrasts – warm and cool, sweet and refreshing.
Green Kiwis: This classic duo shines in a banana, kiwi, and almond genoise cream cake, a harmonious blend of tropical flavors and textures.
Kumquats: Marmalade dreams! Capture their unique citrusy zest in a homemade kumquat marmalade, the perfect partner for a light and airy vanilla pavlova.
Naval Oranges: Indulge in luxury with a decadent dark chocolate mousse entremet, the creamy richness balanced by the bright citrus notes of naval oranges.
Meyer Lemons: Timeless elegance takes form in a classic lemon meringue tart. The sweet-tart interplay of the curd and meringue is a true testament to simplicity done right.
Seville Oranges: Their bitterness is perfect for marmalade, a tangy counterpoint to the richness of milk gelato.
Last Waltz - end of season
Bergamot: This fragrant fruit adds a delicate floral note to a cake with Earl Grey mousse and pistachio, a sophisticated and unique flavour combination.
Bramley Apples: The quintessential apple crumble – a rustic comfort food that never fails to satisfy. Warm, spiced apples nestled beneath a crumbly oat topping – pure winter bliss.
Comice Pears: Poached in a simple syrup and baked in a clafoutis, these pears showcase their buttery texture and delicate sweetness.
Golden Delicious Apples: A touch of nostalgia awaits in a warm apple compote, perfect for spooning over ice cream or yogurt.
Golden Kiwis: Capture their sunshine-y flavor in a refreshing sorbet, ideal for cleansing your palate after a rich meal.
Granny Smith Apples: Their tartness lends itself beautifully to a chutney, a perfect accompaniment to a cheese course, adding a touch of sweet and sour complexity.
Yuzu: This Japanese citrus fruit adds a unique citrusy zing to a cheesecake, its floral notes elevating the classic to new heights.
Clementines: Clementine whipped ganache, almond paste and verbena choux bun.
Mandarin: A traditional baba au rhum gets a vibrant twist with the addition of mandarin liqueur, offering a boozy and citrusy twist on the classic.
So, go forth and experiment! Let the season's fruits inspire you to create delicious and innovative desserts. Remember, the best creations are made with passion and a touch of seasonal magic. Happy baking!